The Voice of Russia reported yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI has blessed a collection of Fabergé Eggs and icons, which will form a special exhibition at the Vatican, starting 15 April. The bejewelled 9 Easter Eggs and 150 Imperial period works of art created by the famous French master, Carl Fabergé, have been loaned to the Vatican Museums by the billionaire philanthropist, Viktor Verselberg. After blessing the exhibition, the Pope also commended Verselberg for promoting human culture through his Link of Times foundation. The exhibition will open in time for Easter, the Feast for which the famous Eggs were commissioned by Tzars Alexander III and Nicolas II. It is apt that the Russian celebration of Easter is being highlighted in such a beautiful way at the Vatican this year - especially now that such a warm relationship has developed between the Papacy and the Patriarchate of Moscow. Through their constant exchanges of gifts and acts of kindness, both the Churches of East and West now seem to be reaching a position from where real and visible unity might, one day, be an achievable goal.
This year is unusual in that all Christians, Orthodox and Catholic, will celebrate Easter on the same day, 24 April. It is therefore telling that one of Russia's greatest art collectors and philanthropists wished to loan his reunited Fabergé collection to the Papal Museums in time for this holiest of all Christian feasts. This seemingly insignificant act is yet another marker in the road to Christian Unity - when we will all, please God, celebrate the Resurrection reunited around the one Altar.
According to the Vatican Museums visitors will be able to view the exhibition in Pinacoteca's Salone di Raffaello, from 15 April until 11 June 2011. A ticket for the Museums will cover entry to the exhibition, called "Fabergé: The Sacred Images".
This year is unusual in that all Christians, Orthodox and Catholic, will celebrate Easter on the same day, 24 April. It is therefore telling that one of Russia's greatest art collectors and philanthropists wished to loan his reunited Fabergé collection to the Papal Museums in time for this holiest of all Christian feasts. This seemingly insignificant act is yet another marker in the road to Christian Unity - when we will all, please God, celebrate the Resurrection reunited around the one Altar.
According to the Vatican Museums visitors will be able to view the exhibition in Pinacoteca's Salone di Raffaello, from 15 April until 11 June 2011. A ticket for the Museums will cover entry to the exhibition, called "Fabergé: The Sacred Images".
Links:
To read more about the exhibition and to view images, please see the Vatican Museums
For an in depth background to the Fabergé collection, please see The Treasures of Imperial Russia
[Image: The 1911 15th Anniversary Egg, a gift from Tzar Nicolas II to Alexandra Fyodorovna; owned by The Link of Times Foundation; source the Vatican Museums ('fair use' of image to highlight an exhibition)]
2 comments:
Oh I want to see this! :( shame I wont be able to, never mind .
Didnt realise everyone had Easter together this year! How wonderful.
This Year ,Passover and Easter too,Catholic,Orthodox,and Judahism,and perhaps DEUS Vult and Allah be Willing "Next Year in Jerusalem".God Bless Matka Russka and God bless America and all God`s Children.Sancta Maria Ora Pro Nobis.Br Robert(o) Moscow Patriarchate relegated Deacon.Order St John Hospitaler U.S.Army.Former member Chaplain Corps USNR professed in perpetual vows in Profane Orders married Hospital Medic and Alexandrian-Rite Catholic,(like all of us the "missing link",but no longer the "lost soul"),keep a good Lent.
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